Taraka, Tārakā, Tāraka: 40 definitions

Introduction:

Taraka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi, biology. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

Alternative spellings of this word include Tarak.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Skanda-purana

Tāraka (तारक) is the name of a gaṇa (attendant of Śiva), mentioned in the Skandapurāṇa 4.2.53. In this chapter, Śiva (Giriśa) summons his attendants (gaṇas) and ask them to venture towards the city Vārāṇasī (Kāśī) in order to find out what the yoginīs, the sun-god, Vidhi (Brahmā) were doing there.

While the gaṇas such as Tāraka were staying at Kāśī, they were desirous but unable of finding a weakness in king Divodaśa who was ruling there. Kāśī is described as a fascinating place beyond the range of Giriśa’s vision, and as a place where yoginīs become ayoginīs, after having come in contact with it. Kāśī is described as having both the power to destroy great delusion, as well as creating it.

The Skandapurāṇa narrates the details and legends surrounding numerous holy pilgrimages (tīrtha-māhātmya) throughout India. It is the largest Mahāpurāṇa composed of over 81,000 metrical verses, with the core text dating from the before the 4th-century CE.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Tāraka (तारक).—(TĀRAKĀSURA) I. An asura chief (demon). This demon even while he was very young did penance to propitiate Śiva and got a boon to the effect that none other than a son born to Śiva should be able to kill him. He became arrogant with the power of this boon and soon became a terror to the world. Then to kill Tārakāsura Subrahmaṇya was born as the son of Śiva. In the great battle between the devas and the asuras Tāraka was killed by Subrahmaṇya.

Tārakāsura was the father of Tārākṣa, Kamalākṣa and Vidyunmālika. (See under Subrahmaṇya). (Śloka 5, Chapter 33, Karṇa Parva).

2) Tāraka (तारक).—Śiva Purāṇa mentions about a Tāraka, son of the minister of Bhadrasena, a King of Kashmir. This Tāraka was the rebirth of a he-fowl. Bhadrasena had a son named Sudharmā. He was the rebirth of a monkey. There is a story regarding how this fowl and the monkey came to be born in Kashmir as above.

2) Once in the village of Nanda there was a prostitute named Mahānandā. Though she was a great devotee of Śiva she was living the life of a prostitute for her livelihood. She was having a monkey and a he-fowl as pets. She would adorn the necks of her pets with the rudrākṣa necklace (rosary) made of berry beads favourite of Śiva and when she sang songs in praise of Śiva those pets danced to the tune.

2) One day a Vaiśya came there. He had a diamond Śiva liṅga with him. Mahānandā felt a great fancy for that and so promised the Vaiśya that if he gave her the diamond liṅga she would remain a faithful wife to him for three days. The Vaiśya agreed and the diamond liṅga was kept in a very secure place That night when both the Vaiśya and Mahānandā were sleeping tired after a hectic amorous sport, the house got fire and the diamond was burst into pieces. The Vaiśya greatly griefstricken by the loss of the diamond, jumped into the fire and committed suicide. Mahānandā faithful to the promise that she would remain his wife for three days started to jump into the fire and abandon her life. At once Śiva appeared before her in person and said thus: "Oh, Mahānandā, do not commit suicide. I came to you disguised as a Vaiśya to test your devotion. You can now ask of me any boon."

2) With tears of joy running down her cheeks she said she wanted to live with Śiva. So Śiva carried her soul to Kailāsa. Not only that, Śiva blessed the fowl and monkey and said they would be born as devotees of Śiva in their next birth and attain mokṣa at the end of their life on earth. Accordingly the monkey and the fowl were born in Kashmir as Sudharmā and Tāraka.

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

1) Tāraka (तारक) refers to the “stars”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.6.—Accordingly, after the Gods eulogised Goddess Śivā:—“Thus eulogising, in many ways, the great goddess stationed in the womb, the gods returned to their abodes, highly delighted in their minds. When nine months were completed, in the tenth month, the goddess, the mother of the universe, bore all the states of a child in the womb in the complete form. The time was good. The planets, stars [i.e., graha-tāraka] and the luminary heavenly bodies were quiet; the sky was clear and there was brilliance in all the quarters. [...]”.

2) Tāraka (तारक) or Tārakāsura is the name of an Asura (demon), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.13 (“Śiva-Pārvatī dialogue”).—Accordingly, after Śiva permitted Pārvatī to stay by his side: “[...] In the mean time Indra, other gods and the sages eagerly sent Kāma there at the bidding of Brahmā. They had been harassed by the demon Tāraka [i.e., tāraka-asuramahāvīryeṇāsureṇa tārakeṇa prapīḍitāḥ]. the demon of great strength. Hence they wanted to unite Pārvatī and Śiva in love. After reaching there Kāma tried all his tricks but Śiva was not at all agitated. He reduced Kāma to ashes. O sage, Pārvatī too was divested of her ego. At his bidding she performed a penance and obtained Him as her husband. Pārvatī and Śiva were very happy. Engrossed in helping others they carried out the work of the gods”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Tāraka (तारक).—An Asura; took part in a Devāsura battle between Bali and Indra.1 Fought with Guha in a Devāsura war.2 Lust after more territory.3 Escaped to the ocean and gave trouble by coming out often.4 Slain by Nandin.5 City in the third tala named after him.6

  • 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VIII. 10. 21.
  • 2) Ib. VIII. 10. 28; Matsya-purāṇa 61. 38.
  • 3) Bhāgavata-purāṇa XII. 3. 11.
  • 4) Matsya-purāṇa 61. 4; 129. 5; 131. 22; 136. 34 and 67.
  • 5) Matsya-purāṇa 138. 43-4.
  • 6) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 20. 26.

1b) A son of Danu,1 and a friend of Bhaṇḍa.2

  • 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 6. 7; Matsya-purāṇa 6. 19; Vāyu-purāṇa 50. 26; 68. 7; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 21. 5.
  • 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 30. 39.

1c) From Tāraṇa or that which takes good men across to next world.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 128. 34 and 56.

1d) A son of Vajrānga and Varāngī who troubled the Devas and destined to be killed by a baby of seven days; relieved his mother (Tāraka) from sorrows and hence the name; ety. was crowned king of the Asura world; did penance at the Pāriyātra cave when Brahmā granted his wish to be killed by a lad of seven days. All Lokapālas served him. He wanted to vanquish Hari and set out with Grasana as commander. The flag of makara was hoisted. Indra's report to Bṛhaspati.1 The war in which he was killed by Kumāra.2

  • 1) Matsya-purāṇa Chh. 146-149; 160. 25-6; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 11. 7.
  • 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 10. 49; IV. 30. 103; Vāyu-purāṇa 72. 47.

1e) Of Kauśika gotra.*

  • * Vāyu-purāṇa 91. 98.

2) Tārakā (तारका).—Sunītī, the mother of Dhruva, known as.*

  • * Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 12. 94.
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Tāraka (तारक) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.24.25) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Tāraka) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Tāraka (तारक) is the name of a demon born during the time while Kālā (Pārvatī) was engaged in deep penance, according to the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—While Kālī, Pārvatī reborn as the daughter of Himālaya, was engaged in deep penance, in the mean time a demon was born named Tāraka. He was a troublesome seditious demon who was as it were a thorn to the people and death incarnate for the gods.

According to the Saurapurāṇa 53.21:—

“Tāraka propitiated Brahmā with his penance and received boons from the latter. He became very powerful and the gods were afraid of him. He forcibly abducted the wives of the gods and drove the gods. Indra along with other gods went to Brahmā thinking Tāraka to be inviolable (avadhya) by them. Brahmā is said to have told the gods that he is inviolable by the gods and he wished death at the hands of the child born out of Śiva’s seed. Then follows the myths of burning and revival of Kāma, marriage of Śiva and Pārvatī, sexual union of the divine pair and the birth of Skanda. Skanda was annointed by the gods as the commander-in chief of the god’s army. At that time the demon Tāraka arrived there to kill Kumāra. There ensued a fight and Skanda killed the demon without any exertion as the fire destroys cotton in no time”.

Purana book cover
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The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

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Vedanta (school of philosophy)

Source: archive.org: Mandala-brahmana Upanishad of Shukla-Yajurveda

Tāraka (तारक) refers to Brahman according to the Maṇḍalabrāhmaṇa-upaniṣad.—In order to cross the ocean of saṃsāra where sleep and fear are the serpents, injury, etc., are the waves, tṛṣṇā (thirst) is the whirlpool, and wife is the mire, one should adhere to the subtle path and overstepping tattva and other guṇas should look out for Tāraka. Tāraka is Brahman which being in the middle of the two eyebrows, is of the nature of the spiritual effulgence of Saccidānanda. The (spiritual) seeing through the three lakṣyas (or the three kinds of introvision) is the means to It (Brahman).

Vedanta book cover
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Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).

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Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)

Source: Shodhganga: a concise history of Sanskrit Chanda literature

1) Tārakā (तारका) is the name of a Sanskrit metre (chandas) to which Hemacandra (1088-1173 C.E.) assigned the alternative name of Niśā in his auto-commentary on the second chapter of the Chandonuśāsana. Hemacandra gives these alternative names for the metres by other authorities (like Bharata), even though the number of gaṇas or letters do not differ.

2) Tāraka (तारक) refers to one of the 130 varṇavṛttas (syllabo-quantitative verse) dealt with in the second chapter of the Vṛttamuktāvalī, ascribed to Durgādatta (19th century), author of eight Sanskrit work and patronised by Hindupati: an ancient king of the Bundela tribe (presently Bundelkhand of Uttar Pradesh). A Varṇavṛtta (e.g., tāraka) refers to a type of classical Sanskrit metre depending on syllable count where the light-heavy patterns are fixed.

Chandas book cover
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Chandas (छन्दस्) refers to Sanskrit prosody and represents one of the six Vedangas (auxiliary disciplines belonging to the study of the Vedas). The science of prosody (chandas-shastra) focusses on the study of the poetic meters such as the commonly known twenty-six metres mentioned by Pingalas.

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Ayurveda (science of life)

Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)

Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu

Tārakā (तारका) is another name for Indravāruṇī, a medicinal plant identified with Citrullus colocynthis (colocynth, bitter apple or desert gourd) from the Cucurbitaceae or “gourd family” of flowering plants, according to verse 3.70-72 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The third chapter (guḍūcyādi-varga) of this book contains climbers and creepers (vīrudh). Together with the names Tārakā and Indravāruṇī, there are a total of twenty-nine Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of terms

Tārakā (तारका):—''Iris and cornea. The colored contractile membrane suspended between the lens and the cornea in the aqueous humor of the eye, separating the anterior and posterior chambers of the eyeball and perforated in the center by the pupil. ''

Ayurveda book cover
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Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Tārakā (तारका) refers to the “stars”, according to the Devīpañcaśataka, an important source of the Kālīkrama that developed in Kashmir after the Kālī Mata of the Jayadrathayāmala.—Accordingly, “The permutation (of the Transmental) is said to be the Light that precedes the mistress of the Wheel of Rays [i.e., puñjacakra-īśī] (of divine consciousness). [...] (That light) is not the moon, (or) the light of the stars [i.e., tārakā-ābhā]; it is not the light of the rays of (the sun), the lord of the sky, nor is it the brilliance of lightning—nor is it like the beautiful sun (of energy). That Light (bhāsā) is seen in the belly (of consciousness) with the eye of knowledge, that is, in the eye on the path of opening (unmeṣa). She is not seen otherwise. All (things) shine due to her: Fire, Moon, Sun and stars. As the division of Sun and Moon, she bestows the plane of oneness. Thus she is the aggregate (kula) of rays and, ferocious, she is the Supreme One (Parā) who has reached the final end of Kula and devours duality with the Yoga of the Fire of (Universal) Destruction.”.—(Cf. Puñjacakra).

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)

Tāraka (तारक) refers to “that which carries one (across the ocean of transmigration)”, according to Sāhib Kaul’s Śārikāstrotra.—Accordingly, “With true devotion I worship that divine and omnipresent Śārikā, who bears the crescent moon on her head, who grants liberation, destroys delusion everywhere, destroys the bad fear of meeting a wrong death. O mother Śārikā, whoever devotedly recites your tāra-syllable, which carries (tāraka) one across the ocean of transmigration, may, when his wisdom is ripened through the knowledge of the absolute, even put to shame the Lord of the Word. [...]”.

Shaktism book cover
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Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

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Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

1) Tāraka (तारक) (Cf. Tāra) refers to the “disc” of Ketus (i.e., luminous bodies such as comets and meteors), according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 11), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).— Accordingly, “Jala Ketu is a comet which appears in the west with a raised tail; it is glossy, when it appears there will be prosperity in the land for 9 months, and the world will be freed from all miseries. Bhava Ketu is a comet visible only for a single night and in the east, possessing a small disc [i.e., sūkṣma-tāraka]; it is glossy; the tail is bent like that of a lion. There will be unprecedented happiness in the land for as many months as the number of hours for which it continues to be visible; if it should be fearful to look at, fatal diseases will afflict mankind”.

2) Tārakā (तारका) [or Tārakānta?] refers to the “pupil of the eye”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 12).—Accordingly, “Again in the season of autumn will be found the blue and white lotus growing side by side, hovered over by beautiful lines of bees, tender creepers adding beauty to the scene; the season therefore resembles a charming woman with blue eyes, fair face, black hair and thin brows. As if to view the beauty of the pure disc of her lord—the Moon, the summer lake opens at night her red lotus buds—her eyes of soft petals in which lie concealed the black bee serving as the pupil of the eye [i.e., tārakā-anta]”.

Jyotisha book cover
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Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

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Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Tāraka (तारक) refers to “crossing over (to liberation)”, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Vāmadeva: “[...] Some are devoted to Mantra Yoga, some are confused by meditation and some tormented by forceful [practices]. They do not know what causes one to cross over (tāraka) [to liberation]. [...]”.

Note: The word tāraka, in Amanaska 1.4d, is prominent in yogic literature as far back as Yogasūtra 3.54, in which it qualifies knowledge that arises from discernment. The Yogabhāṣya 's commentary on this Sūtra glosses tāraka as: “That which arises from one's own intelligence and not from instruction”. However, Vācaspatimiśra's gloss (3.33) on tāraka defines it as it is commonly understood in Agamic literature: “That which causes one to cross over worldly existence”. This interpretation derives from the root meaning of √tṝ as “crossing over” which is stated in Dhātupāṭha 1.1124. Therefore, tāraka often qualifies something which causes liberation, such as a God (e.g., Kulapradīpa 1.3a-b), the Guru (e.g., Kulārṇavatantra 13.99c-d) or even Prāṇāyāma (e.g., Yogayājñavalkya 6.81c-d). In light of these examples, it is not surprising that Tārakayoga became the name of a type of yoga in the Maṇḍalabrāhmaṇopaniṣat, the Advayatārakopaniṣat, the Śivayogadīpikā and the Rājayogabhāṣya. In these texts, Tārakayoga is preliminary to the practice of Amanaska, and this is the main topic of the additional verses of the Amanaska's south-Indian recension.

Yoga book cover
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Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

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General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and Subjects

Tārakā (तारका) is found several times in the Atharvaveda denoting a star. The masculine form Tāraka occurs in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa.

Source: Apam Napat: Indian Mythology

Taraka was an Asura, the son of Vajranaga and Varangi. His father had conquered and humiliated Indra, only sparing the life of the king of the Gods when Brahma and Kashyapa intervened. Indra had his revenge when Vajranaga went away for a thousand year penance. He tormented Varangi by various means. When Vajranaga returned, he was very angry and prayed to Lord Brahma. The Lord blessed him with a son who could defeat Indra and who would be the scrouge of the Devas. Varangi bore the child in her womb for a thousand years and the demon Taraka was born.

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Tāraka (तारक): A demon slain by Kumara, the first son of Shiva.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

1) Tāraka (तारक) refers to a “ferryman”, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 2.—Accordingly, “The Buddhadharma is a great sea (mahāsamudra); faith (śraddhā) is its entry (avatāraka), knowledge (jñāna) is its ferryman (tāraka). Evam is a synonym for faith. The person whose heart is full of pure faith (śraddhāviśuddhi) is able to enter into the Buddha’s doctrine; without faith, he cannot”.

2) Tāraka (तारक) refers to a “star in space” and represents one of the various types of upamāna (comparisons). Cf. Nirmāṇa, and the Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XI).—Accordingly to the Vajracchedikā, p. 46, “The conditioned should be thought to be like a star in space [i.e., tārakāākāśe tārakā], shadows, a lamp, hoarfrost, a water bubble, a dream, a flash of lightning a cloud” (Cf. the Khotanese commentary in Hoernle, Remains, p. 287.)

Mahayana book cover
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Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

1) Tāraka (तारक) refers to a class of piśāca deities according to the Digambara tradition of Jainism, while Śvetāmbara does not recognize this class. The piśācas refer to a category of vyantaras gods which represents one of the four classes of celestial beings (devas).

The deities such as the Tārakas are defined in ancient Jain cosmological texts such as the Saṃgrahaṇīratna in the Śvetāmbara tradition or the Tiloyapaṇṇati by Yativṛṣabha (5th century) in the Digambara tradition.

2) Tāraka (तारक) is the name of the second Prativāsudeva according to both Śvetāmbara and Digambara sources. Jain legends describe nine such Prativāsudevas (anti-heroes) usually appearing as powerful but evil antagonists instigating Vāsudeva by subjugating large portions of Bharata-land. As such, they are closely related with the twin brothers known as the Vāsudevas (“violent heroes”) and the Baladevas (“gentle heroes”).

The Prativāsudevas (such as Tāraka) fight against the twin-heroes with their cakra-weapon but at the final moment are killed by the Vāsudevas. Their stories are narrated in the Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacarita (“the lives of the sixty-three illustrious persons”), a twelfth-century Śvetāmbara work by Hemacandra.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Tāraka (तारक) refers to one of the nine Prativāsudevas (enemies of Vāsudevas), according to chapter 1.6 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism. Accordingly: “[...] Aśvagrīva, Tāraka, Meraka, Madhu, Niśumbha, Bali, Pralhāda (Prahlāda), Laṅkeśa, Magadheśvara, rivals of the Vāsudevas, all fighting with the cakra, will perish from their own cakras which have gone to the hands of the Vāsudevas”.

Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

Tāraka (तारक) or Tāra refers to the “stars”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Fool, you must understand, in reality, substance is not acknowledged in a mass of foam, the trunk of a plantain tree or in the body of human beings. The planets, moon, sun, stars (tārakagrahacandrārkatārakāḥ) and seasons go and come [but] certainly for embodied souls bodies do not [go and come] even in a dream”.

General definition book cover
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Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

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India history and geography

Source: Singhi Jain Series: Ratnaprabha-suri’s Kuvalayamala-katha (history)

Tāraka (तारक) refers to one of the deities being worshiped in ancient India, as vividly depicted in the Kathās (narrative poems) such as Uddyotanasūri in his 8th-century Kuvalayamālā (a Prakrit Campū, similar to Kāvya poetry).—The Kuvalayamala (779 A.D.) is full of cultural material which gains in value because of the firm date of its composition. [...] Page 256.31-2 ff.: Here is a mixed list of 25 gods and Godlings of all religions. These were worshipped and propitiated to obtain favours. The list includes [e.g., Tāraka] [...].

India history book cover
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The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

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Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

Taraka in India is the name of a plant defined with Alpinia nigra in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Languas aquatica J. König (among others).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Species Plantarum, ed. 4 (1797)
· Dict. Econ. Prod. Mal. Penins.
· Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh (1977)
· The Gardeners Dictionary (1754)
· De Fructibus et Seminibus Plantarum (1788)
· Observationes Botanicae (Retzius) (1791)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Taraka, for example diet and recipes, pregnancy safety, health benefits, side effects, extract dosage, chemical composition, have a look at these references.

Biology book cover
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This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

tārakā : (f.) a star.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Tārakā, (f.) (Sk. tārakā) 1. a star, a planet: osadhī viya tārakā like the morning-star (Venus) Vv 92=Pv. II, 110;— J. I, 108; tāraka-rūpa the light (or sparkling) of the stars D. III, 85, 90; S. III, 156=It. 19; S. V, 44; VvA. 79; Dhs. 617.—2. fig. sparkling, glitter, twinkle; akkhi° the pupil of the eye M. I, 80; udaka° sparkling of the water ibid. (Page 299)

Pali book cover
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Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

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Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

taraka (तरक).—m f A stout rafter or pole (as for the corners of a roof, for the sides of a flight of stairs, for a ladder, for the dhāraṇa or upholding post of a house &c.): also a stout piece of timber or wood (used as a stanchion, or short supporting post to a tree &c.)

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tāraka (तारक).—f A flower-tree, Alpinia Allughas. Grah.

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tāraka (तारक).—a (S) That causes to pass over or through; viz. a deliverer, saviour, preserver.

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tāraka (तारक).—m S (Because floats or rafts are upborne and wafted by gourds.) A gourd.

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tārakā (तारका).—f (S) A star. 2 The pupil of the eye. 3 A term of anger for a mischievous or troublesome little girl. (Said to be the proper name of the wife of some legendary evil spirit.)

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tārakā (तारका) [or खा, khā].—f pl (tārā f pl of tāra Wires.) A vulgar allusive term for Hair of the pubes. tā0 samajaṇēṃ-mōjaṇēṃ-mānaṇēṃ-jāṇaṇēṃ-lēkhaṇēṃ To esteem as vile or mean (flocci æstimare, vili pendere &c.)

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

taraka (तरक).—m f A stout rafter or pole.

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tāraka (तारक).—a A deliverer.

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tārakā (तारका).—f A star.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Tāraka (तारक).—Name of a demon killed by Kārtikeya. [He was the son of Vajrāṅga and Varāṅgī. He propitiated the god Brahmadeva by means of his penance on the Pāriyātra mountain, and asked as a boon that he should not be killed by any one except a child seven days old. On the strength of this boon be began to oppress the gods who were obliged to go to Brahmā and ask his assistance in the destruction of the demon (see Kumārasambhava 2). But they were told that the offspring of Śiva could alone vanquish him. Afterwards Kārtikeya was born, and he slew the demon on the seventh day of his birth].

Derivable forms: tārakaḥ (तारकः).

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Tārakā (तारका).—

1) A star; यर्ह्येवाजनजन्मर्क्षं शान्तर्क्षग्रहतारकम् (yarhyevājanajanmarkṣaṃ śāntarkṣagrahatārakam) Bhāg. 1.3.1.

2) A meteor, falling star.

3) The pupil of the eye; संदधे दृशमुदग्रतारकाम् (saṃdadhe dṛśamudagratārakām) R.11.69; Ch. P.5; Bh. 1.11.

4) Name of the wife of Bṛhaspati; सुरासुरविनाशोऽ भूत्समरस्तारकामयः (surāsuravināśo' bhūtsamarastārakāmayaḥ) Bhāgavata 9.14.7.

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Tāraka (तारक).—a. (-rikā f.) [तॄ-णिच् ण्वुल् (tṝ-ṇic ṇvul)]

1) Carrying over.

2) Protecting, preserving, rescuing.

3) Helping another through a difficulty.

-kaḥ 1 A pilot, helmsman.

2) A deliverer, saviour.

3) Name of Śiva.

-kaḥ, -kam A boat, raft.

-kam (also f.)

1) The pupil of the eye; संदधे दृशमुदग्रतारकाम् (saṃdadhe dṛśamudagratārakām) R.11.69.

2) The eye.

3) A star; शान्तर्क्ष- ग्रहतारकम् (śāntarkṣa- grahatārakam) Bhāgavata 1.3.1; see तारका (tārakā).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Tāraka (तारक).—m. (°kā, f., Sanskrit and Pali; °ka, said by [Ardha-Māgadhī Dictionary] to be nt., AMg.), pupil of the eye: °kaḥ Mahāvyutpatti 3945 = Tibetan mig gi ḥbras bu, lit. fruit (compare Eng. apple) of the eye.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Tāraka (तारक).—mfn.

(-kaḥ-kā-kaṃ) 1. A protector, a preserver. 2. One who causes or enables to pass or go over. n.

(-kaṃ) 1. The eye. 2. A Mantra, a formula addressed to Rama, as Ramaya namah. nf.

(-kaṃ-kā) 1. The pupil of the eye. 2. A star. mn.

(-kaḥ-kaṃ) A float or raft. m.

(-kaḥ) A pilot, a helmsman or steersman. 2. The man of a demon or evil spirit destroyed by Kartikeya. E. tṝ to pass or cause to pass, and ṇic and ṇvul affixes; or kan added to the preceding.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Tāraka (तारक).—I. i. e. tṛ10 + aka, adj., f. rikā, 1. Bringing over, [Rāmāyaṇa] 2, 97, 23 Gorr. 2. Saving, [Prabodhacandrodaya, (ed. Brockhaus.)] 25, 17. Ii. m. A proper name, Mahābhārata 6, 4249. Iii. f. rakā, and n. 1. A star (see tāra B.), [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 2, 5, 11; Mahābhārata 5, 5390. 2. The pupil of the eye, [Rāmāyaṇa] 3, 52, 34.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Tāraka (तारक).—([feminine] rikā) carrying over, rescuing; [masculine] [Name] of a demon, [plural] the children of T.; [feminine] tārakā star (also [neuter]), meteor, pupil of the eye, a woman’s name; [feminine] tārikā the juice of palms.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Tāraka (तारक):—[from tāra] mf(ikā [Pāṇini 7-3, 45], [vArttika] 6 [Rāmāyaṇa ii])n. causing or enabling to pass or go over, carrying over, rescuing, liberating, saving, [Mahābhārata xii] (Śiva), [Jābāla-upaniṣad; Śiva-purāṇa] etc. (a particular prayer, brahman)

2) [v.s. ...] belonging to the stars, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā xxiv, 10] (ka)

3) [v.s. ...] m. a helmsman, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

4) [v.s. ...] Name of a Daitya (conquered by Indra with the assistance of Skanda), [Mahābhārata vi ff.] ([plural] the children of that Daitya, viii, 1553), xiii, [Harivaṃśa; Kumāra-sambhava] etc.

5) [v.s. ...] of an enemy of Viṣṇu, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

6) [v.s. ...] of a friend of Sīmanta, [BrahmôttKh. xxx]

7) [v.s. ...] m. n. a float, raft, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

8) [v.s. ...] n. a star, [Mahābhārata v, 5390; Gīta-govinda vii, 24]

9) [v.s. ...] the pupil of the eye, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

10) [v.s. ...] the eye, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

11) [v.s. ...] a metre of 4 x 13 syllables

12) Tārakā (तारका):—[from tāraka > tāra] a f. ([Pāṇini 7-3, 45], [vArttika] 6) a star, [Atharva-veda; Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa i, 5, 2, 5; Yājñavalkya i; Mahābhārata] etc. (ifc. f(ā). )

13) [v.s. ...] a meteor, falling star, [Atharva-veda v, 17, 4]

14) [v.s. ...] the pupil of the eye, [Mahābhārata i, 2932; Rāmāyaṇa iii; Mṛcchakaṭikā] etc.

15) [v.s. ...] the eye, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

16) [v.s. ...] coloquintida, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

17) [v.s. ...] = laghu-vṛndāvana, [Nighaṇṭuprakāśa]

18) [v.s. ...] (= ) Name of Bṛhas-pati’s wife, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa iv, 6, 9]

19) [from tāra] b f. of ka q.v.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Tāraka (तारक):—(kaḥ) 1. m. A protector; guide, pilot; name of a demon. m. n. A raft. (kaṃ) f. n. A star; pupil of the eye. n. The eye; a mantra.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Tāraka (तारक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Tāraga, Tāragā, Tārua.

[Sanskrit to German]

Taraka in German

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Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Tāraka (तारक) [Also spelled tarak]:—(nm) a star; asterisk; -[cinha] asterisk mark.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Tāraka (ತಾರಕ):—

1) [noun] he that helps crossing over a river or passing through successfully a formidable situation or period of difficulty.

2) [noun] the act of crossing or passing so.

3) [noun] any of the luminous celestial objects seen as points of light in the sky; a star.

4) [noun] a shrill voice.

5) [noun] the contractile circular opening, apparently black, in the centre of the iris of the eye; the pupil.

6) [noun] a ship, boat, raft etc. used for crossing over a body of water.

7) [noun] a man who steers or guides a ship or boat.

8) [noun] silver.

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Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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